Fan Calendar Only One Endorsed By Phs

As predictable as Old Faithful, out-of-state salesmen are showing up in Payson hawking Payson High School calendars and programs.

It happens every fall just about the time the new school year begins and the local Friends and Neighbors (FAN) Club begins selling the only calendars endorsed by Payson High School.

In the past, some local business owners have purchased space on the out-of-state calendars thinking they are supporting Payson High School.

Not so, says PHS athletic director Dave Bradley. "The only official calendar and the ones that support us are sold by the FAN Club."

What the out of state firms do is not illegal because school athletic schedules are public property. It is illegal, however, if they say they are representing Payson High School.

Several years ago, Payson Police Chief Gordon Gartner led an investigation into the sales by out of state firms and discovered most were legally doing business and the representatives only implied they were working with the high school.

Former Payson High School football coach Mike Wheelis, a retired police officer, once confronted the out of state salespersons telling them what they were doing was hurting the PHS sports programs and the kids.

Nonetheless, they continued to peddle their calendars around town.

The FAN Club calendars, which are published before each school sport begins, are a huge moneymaker for the FAN Club and the school.

The profits are used to fund extra curricular activities and purchase much needed items that cannot be bought from the strapped-tight PHS budget.

The best advice from Bradley is for advertisers to purchase calendar space only from a FAN Club representative.

If business owners have any doubt about a sales person call Bradley at (928) 474-2233 or e-mail FAN Club member Kristy Ford at fordfam@npgcable.com.

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